ˌæb.əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.n̩.l̩ ˈkɑː.dɪ.nəl ˈkɑɹdɪnəl ˈsɛntɹəl ˌfʌndəˈmɛntəl ˈpɹaɪməl ˈpɹaɪˌmi.vəl pɹaɪˈmɔː.di.əl pɹaɪˈmɔɹ.di.əl having existed from the beginning; in an earliest or original stage or state aboriginal forests primal eras before the appearance of life on earth the forest primeval primordial matter primordial forms of life serving as an essential component a cardinal rule the central cause of the problem an example that was fundamental to the argument computers are fundamental to modern industrial structure